ITHACA, N.Y. - Junior midfielder Chris Malone (Timonium, Md.) notched the game-winning goal with 7:09 left in the fourth to break a 7-7 deadlock and give No. 9 Maryland (5-1 overall) a hard-fought 8-7 victory over No. 11 Cornell at Schoellkopf Field on a sunny and brisk Saturday afternoon.

Maryland held off a furious Cornell attack in the final minute. The Terps made three outstanding defensive plays to secure the win, sophomore midfielder Nate Watkins (Elmira, N.Y.) knocked loose a Cornell pass with 35 seconds left when the Big Red had the ball deep in Maryland territory. Then after Cornell regained possession Marcus LaChapelle (Severna Park, Md.) intercepted a pass by Cornell defenseman Ryan McClay with 21 seconds left and as the final buzzer sounded goalie Pat McGinnis (Ellicott City, Md.) made his 10th and final stop on David Key's shot from about 35 yards.

Maryland rallied back after falling behind 5-2 with 8:05 left in the first half. Maryland scored four straight goals including three from Andrew "Buggs" Combs (Baltimore, Md.) and one goal by Brian Zeller (Forest Hill, Md.) to take a 6-5 lead with 8:43 left in the third quarter. Cornell tied the game at 6-6 on a Chris Packard goal with 6:20 in the third. Maryland's Alex Poole (Hunt Valley, Md,). gave the Terps a 7-6 lead to end the third quarter when he scored with 4:19 left in the period. The Big Red tied the game at 7-7 on J.P. Schalk's goal with 11:02 left in regulation, and that set the stage for Malone's winner which he knocked in from the left side of the goal.

LaChapelle led Maryland with four points on two goals -- the Terps' first two of the game -- and two assists. Combs' three goals equaled his career-high for the second straight game. Mike Mollot (Holbrook. N.Y.) recorded one assist to raise his team-high point total to 20 and keep his consecutive point scoring streak alive at six.

Maryland's extra-man unit was once against outstanding, scoring on all three attempts for the second straight game. Maryland has now scored on six consecutive man-up opportunities.

The Terps, who outshot Cornell 36-27, have now won eight game in a row against Cornell.

With the win, Maryland head coach Dick Edell passed former Towson coach Carl Runk for fourth on the all-time collegiate coaching win list. Edell's overall record stands at 263-116 in 28 years at Maryland, Army and the University of Baltimore.

Maryland returns home to face Vermont next Tuesday, March 21 at 4 p.m. in Byrd Stadium.